Abstract:
Recognizing the challenge that climate change and natural disasters will bring to small island developing states, over one hundred and twenty representatives from small island developing states in the Pacific and East Timor, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, regional and international and non-government organisations and development partners met in Apia, Samoa 22-26 May 2011 to share lessons for future action on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The conference was opened by the Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honourable Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi. The conference shared experiences and identified common challenges and good practice examples in: information and awareness-raising, national planning and policy frameworks; community based responses to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; strategies and on-ground implementation options; and capacity development.
During the conference, participants reiterated the particular vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and also recognised the diversity of climate change and disaster response challenges facing them given their different character (volcanic islands to small atolls), geographic, social and economic circumstances.